Imidoperoxycarboxylic acids, processes for their preparation and their use

ABSTRACT

Imidopercarboxylic acids or salts thereof of the formula ##STR1## in which A denotes a group of the formula ##STR2## n denotes the number 0, 1 or 2, R 1  denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, C 1  -C 20  -alkyl, C 2  -C 20  -alkenyl, aryl, or alkylaryl, 
     R 2  denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or a group of the formula --SO 3  M, --CO 2  M, CO 3  M or OSO 3  M. 
     M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or ammonium ion or the equivalent of an alkaline earth metal ion and 
     X denotes C 3  -C 19  -alkylene or arylene, preferably phenylene. 
     These compounds are suitable as stable peroxide compounds in bleaching, oxidizing and cleaning agents.

Inorganic per-salts have been known for a long time as bleachingadditives in detergents. However, since they only display their optimumbleaching power at temperatures above 60° C., a number of organiccompounds which react with hydrogen peroxide during the washing processto release a peroxycarboxylic acid, which already has a bleaching actionat 40°-60° C., have been described for activation of these per-salts. Areview of numerous known perborate activators, such as N-acyl compounds(tetraacetylethylenediamine, tetraacetylmethylenediamine ortetraacetylglycoluril) or activated esters (pentaacetylglucose, sodiumacetoxybenzenesulfonate or sodium benzoyloxybenzenesulfonate) is given,for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,928.

In addition, a number of organic peroxycarboxylic acids have recentlybeen described as bleaching systems for detergents. As well asperoxycarboxylic acids which are already commercially available, such asdodecanedipercarboxylic acid (EP 127,782) and monoperoxyphthalic acid(EP 27,693), persuccinic acid (DE 3,438,529), perglutaric acid (DE3,539,036) and sulfoperbenzoic acid (EP 124,969) are described. Theproblem with these peroxycarboxylic acids is, however, their low storagestability, which in some cases is only guaranteed by particular physicalor chemical stabilization The preparation of magnesium salts (EP105,689) or an addition of phosphane oxide/sodium sulfate (DE 3,320,497)has proved to be particularly appropriate here. According to EP 170,386,organic peroxycarboxylic acids are also stabilized by an additionalamide group in the molecule. Examples of these areN-decanoyl-6-aminoperoxycaproic acid or3-(N-nonyl-carbamoyl)-perpropionic acid. The storage stability of thesecompounds can be additionally increased by conversion into the magnesiumsalt and by addition of borates (U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,063). However, thefree peroxycarboxylic acids described to date already exhibit a cleardecrease in active oxygen under relatively mild storage conditions. Asour own experiments show, this is also the case with theimidopercarboxylic acids already described in J. Chem. Soc. 1962, 3821and Chem. Ind. 1961, 469. There thus continues to be a great interest instorage-stable organic peroxycarboxylic acids having a high bleachingefficiency which are conveniently accessible in a simple and reliablemanner.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that the organic peroxycarboxylicacids described below have a considerably higher storage stability thanall the amido- or imidoperoxycarboxylic acids known to date.

The invention thus relates to imidopercarboxylic acids or salts thereofof the general formula ##STR3## in which A denotes a group of theformula ##STR4## n denotes the number 0, 1 or 2, R¹ denotes hydrogen,chlorine, bromine, C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ -alkenyl, aryl, preferablyphenyl, or alkylaryl, preferably C₁ -C₄ -alkylphenyl,

R² denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or a group of the formula --SO₃M, --CO₂ M, CO₃ M or OSO₃ M,

M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or ammonium ion or the equivalent ofan alkaline earth metal ion and

X denotes C₁ -C₁₉ -, preferably C₃ -C₁₉ -alkylene or arylene, preferablyphenylene.

The imidopercarboxylic acids or salts thereof of the above formula inwhich

A denotes a group of the formula ##STR5## n denotes the number 0 or 1,R¹ denotes C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl or C₂ -C₂₀ -alkenyl,

X denotes C₃ -C₁₁ -alkylene and

M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or ammonium ion or the equivalent ofan alkaline earth metal ion,

are preferred.

ω-Phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid, ω-2-dodecylsuccinimidoperoxyhexanoicacid, ω-phthalimidoperoxybutanoic acid andω-trimellitimidoperoxyhexanoic acid are particularly preferred.

The imidoperoxycarboxylic acids are prepared by the steps:

-a- Synthesis of the imidocarboxylic acids

-b- Oxidation to the percarboxylic acid

-c- Isolation of the imidoperoxycarboxylic acid and if appropriatepreparation of a suitable salt.

The individual steps are explained in more detail below. The preparationof the imidocarboxylic acid in step -a- can be carried out in a mannerwhich is known per se by reaction of anhydrides of the formula ##STR6##with amino acids of the formula ##STR7## (see Houben-Weyl, Methoden derOrganischen Chemie (Methods of Organic Chemistry), XI/2, page 17).

Anhydrides which can be employed are, in particular, succinic anhydride,glutaric anhydride, maleic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride, phthalicanhydride, pyromellitic anhydride and alkyl- or alkenylsuccinicanhydrides, and amino acids which can be employed are ω-aminobutyricacid, ω-aminovaleric acid, ω-aminocaproic acid and ω-aminolauric acid.

The imidocarboxylic acids can also be prepared particularlyinexpensively from lactams. For this, the lactam is reacted with theanhydride in the presence of water under pressure for 2 to 20 hours,preferably 5 to 10 hours, at a temperature of 100° to 250° C.,preferably 120° to 200° C., under an inert gas atmosphere in a suitablereaction vessel. The increased pressure can be 1 to 30 bar, preferably 2to 5 bar. Lactams having a C₃ -C₁₉ -alkylene group, such asγ-pyrrolidone, δ-piperidone, ε-caprolactam and ω-laurolactam, areparticularly preferred.

The conversion of the imidocarboxylic acids obtained in step -a- intoimidopercarboxylic acids is carried out by reaction with an oxidationmixture of hydrogen peroxide and a strong acid. Hydrogen peroxide isemployed as a 30 to 95 per cent strength, preferably 35 to 50 per centstrength, aqueous solution. Suitable acid catalysts in addition tosulfuric acid are methanesulfonic acid or an acid ion exchanger.Sulfuric acid is used as a 50 to 96 per cent strength, preferably 75 to96 per cent strength, aqueous solution.

Hydrogen peroxide is used in 1 to 20 times, preferably 1.5 to 4 times,the molar excess. It has furthermore proved favorable to carry out thehydrogen peroxide addition in portions. The amount of sulfuric aciddepends on the imidocarboxylic acid. A 2- to 5-fold excess--based on theimidocarboxylic acid--is in general employed. The reaction temperaturedepends on the stability of the peroxycarboxylic acid formed and isbetween 5° and 50° C., preferably between 15° and 45° C.

Since the imidoperoxycarboxylic acids claimed in most cases precipitateout of the reaction mixture, they can be isolated in step -c- in asimple manner by filtration or centrifugation. The precipitation processcan be accelerated and brought to completion by addition of water. It isalso possible to separate off the imidoperoxycarboxylic acids byextraction with an organic solvent. If appropriate, theimidoperoxycarboxylic acids can be converted into their salts in amanner which is known per se.

The imidoperoxycarboxylic acids according to the invention and saltsthereof are solid and almost odorless, have a low vapor pressure and areof excellent thermal stability. They can be employed for bleaching,oxidation or disinfection purposes as solutions, powders or in processedform by themselves or in combination with other substances.

They are preferably employed as bleaching agents in solid or liquiddetergents and cleaning agents, since their bleaching and disinfectingaction is already fully effective in a wide temperature range below 60°C.

The acids or salts thereof in granular, extruded, tableted oragglomerated form are particularly suitable for incorporation intopulverulent detergents. Possible additives for this processing methodare auxiliaries which are known per se, such as boric acid, sulfates,phosphates, carbonates, zeolites, carboxymethylcellulose and the like,and film-forming substances, such as fatty acids, fatty acid amides oresters, fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers or polyethylene glycols.

The compounds according to the invention prove to be effective in atleast the same manner but in many cases superior to the known bleachingsystem of perborate/TAED (tetraacetylethylenediamine). Whereas bleachingsystems based on perborate tend to fix the blood from blood stains ontothe fabric and in this way drastically reduce its ease of washing out,this antagonistic effect is not observed when the peroxycarboxylic acidsaccording to the invention which are described here are employed.

If equimolar amounts of active oxygen are used, the compounds accordingto the invention are equivalent in their bleaching efficiency on tea andred wine stains to the peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxy/dicarboxylicacids described to date, and in most cases are even superior. Asignificant oil-solubility of the compounds described here isfurthermore advantageous, which means that, in particular, hydrophobicoil-containing stains, such as grilling oil or spaghetti sauce, arereadily bleached.

General instructions for the preparation of imidoperoxycarboxylic acids

The imidocarboxylic acids are dissolved in 2 to 2.5 times the amount ofsulfuric acid, and 2.5 equivalents of hydrogen peroxide (35-50 per centstrength) are added dropwise, while cooling with ice, so that theinternal temperature can be kept between 40° and 45° C. When theaddition has ended, the mixture is cooled to 25°-30° C. and diluted withwater and the peracid which has precipitated is filtered off withsuction. The filter cake is washed with water and dried at 35° C. in avacuum drying cabinet.

EXAMPLE 1 a) ω-Phthalimidobutanoic acid

74.05 g (0.5 mol) of phthalic anhydride, 43.55 g (0.5 mol) ofγ-pyrrolidone and 9 g of water are reacted in an autoclave for 5 hoursat 180° C. under 3 bar of nitrogen. The melt is then poured into aporcelain dish.

Yield: 116.2 g (99.6%), white crystals

Melting point: 110°-112° C.

b) ω-Phthalimidoperoxybutanoic acid

46.6 g (0.2 mol) of ω-phthalimidobutanoic acid are oxidized inaccordance with the general instructions.

Yield: 46.4 g (93%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 6.1% (95.3%), determined by iodometric titration.

Melting point: 102°-106° C.

EXAMPLE 2 a) ω-Phthalimidohexanoic acid

213.2 g (1 mol) of ε-caprolactam, 18 g of water and 148.1 g (1 mol) ofphthalic anhydride are reacted in an autoclave for 5 hours at 160° C.under 3 bar of nitrogen. The melt is then poured into a porcelain dish.

Yield: 261 g (99.8%), white crystals

Melting point: 104°-105° C.

b) ω-Phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid

653.2 g (2.5 mol) of ω-phthalimidohexanoic acid are oxidized inaccordance with the general instructions.

Yield: 636.6 g (91.8%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 5.4% (93.6%)

Melting point: 89°-90° C.

EXAMPLE 3 a) ω-[2-Dodecylsuccinimido]hexanoic acid

268.4 g (1 mol) of dodecylsuccinic anhydride, 113.2 g (1 mol) ofε-caprolactam and 18 g of water are reacted in an autoclave for 7 hoursat 180° C. under a nitrogen pressure of 3 bar. The melt is then pouredinto a porcelain dish.

Yield: 381.2 g (99.9%), white crystals

Melting point: 74°-75° C.

b) ω-[2-Dodecylsuccinimido]peroxyhexanoic acid

20 g (0.05 mol) of ω-[2-dodecylsuccinimido]hexanoic acid are oxidized inaccordance with the general instructions.

Yield: 17.7 g (89%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 3.7% (96.1%)

EXAMPLE 4 a) ω-[3-Carboxyphthalimido]hexanoic acid

191.1 g (1 mol) of trimellitic anhydride, 113.1 g (1 mol) ofε-caprolactam and 18 g of water are reacted in an autoclave for 5 hoursat 210° C. under a nitrogen pressure of 3 bar. The melt is then pouredinto a porcelain dish.

Yield: 304.1 g (100%), white crystals

Melting point: 196°-197° C.

b) ω-[3-Carboxyphthalimido]peroxyhexanoic acid

244.2 g (0.8 mol) of ω-[3-carboxyphthalimido]hexanoic acid are oxidizedin accordance with the general instructions.

Yield: 235 g (87%)

Active oxygen content: 4.8% (96%)

Melting point: 144° C.

EXAMPLE 5 a) Pyromellitimido-di-ω-hexanoic acid

76 g (0.35 mol) of pyromellitic anhydride and 79.2 g (0.7 mol) ofε-caprolactam are reacted with 11 g of water for 18 hours at 250° C.under a nitrogen pressure of 4 bar in an autoclave. The melt is thenpoured into a porcelain dish.

Yield: 149 g (96%), white crystals

Melting point: 222°-225° C.

b) Pyromellitimido-di-ω-peroxyhexanoic acid

10 g (0.023 mol) of pyromellitimido-di-ω-hexanoic acid are reacted withfive equivalents of hydrogen peroxide in accordance with the generalinstructions.

Yield: 9 g (82%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 6.6% (98.5%)

Melting point: 139° C.

EXAMPLE 6 a) ω-Phthalimidobutanoic acid

74.05 g (0.5 mol) of phthalic anhydride and 51.55 g (0.5 mol) ofω-aminobutyric acid are heated at 170°-180° C. under a nitrogenatmosphere. During this procedure, the water of reaction formed isdistilled off completely, and the melt is then poured into a porcelaindish.

Yield: 116.2 g (99.6%), white crystals

Melting point: 110°-112° C. (literature: 117°-118° C.)

b) ω-Phthalimidoperoxybutanoic acid

18 g (0.077 mol) of ω-phthalimidobutanoic acid are oxidized inaccordance with the general instructions.

Yield: 18 g (93.8%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 6.0% (93.6%), determined by iodometric titration

Melting point: 106°-109° C.

EXAMPLE 7 a) ω-Phthalimidohexanoic acid

213.2 g (1 mol) of ε-caprolactam, 148.1 g (1 mol) of phthalic anhydrideand 2 g of water are reacted in an autoclave for 10 hours at 180° C.under 3 bar of nitrogen. The melt is then poured into a porcelain dish.

Yield: 261 g (99.8%), white crystals

Melting point: 104°-105° C. (literature: 106° C.)

b) ω-Phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid

174 g (0.67 mol) of ω-phthalimidohexanoic acid are oxidized inaccordance with the general instructions.

Yield: 165 g (89%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 5.6% (97%)

Melting point: 90° C.

EXAMPLE 8 a) ω-Succinimidohexanoic acid

100.1 g (1 mol) of succinic anhydride are reacted with 113.2 g (1 mol)of ε-caprolactam in the presence of 2 g of water in an autoclave for 10hours at 180° C. under 3 bar of nitrogen.

Yield: 213.2 g (100%), white crystals

Melting point: 76°-77° C.

b) ω-Succinimidoperoxyhexanoic acid

20 g (0.094 mol) of ω-succinimidohexanoic acid in 50 g of sulfuric acid(96 per cent strength) are oxidized in accordance with the generalinstructions.

Yield: 18.3 g (84.9%), white crystals

Active oxygen content: 5.3% (76.0%)

EXAMPLE 9 a) ω-[2-Dodecylsuccinimido]hexanoic acid

268.4 g (1 mol) of dodecylsuccinic anhydride, 113.2 g (1 mol) ofcaprolactam and 2 g of water are reacted and the product is isolated,analogously to Example 5.

Yield: 381.2 g (99.9%), white crystals

Melting point: 74°-75° C.

b) ω-[2-Dodecylsuccinimido]peroxyhexanoic acid

20 g (0.05 mol) of ω-[2-dodecylsuccinimido]hexanoic acid in 50 g ofsulfuric acid (96% strength) are oxidized in accordance with the generalinstructions.

Yield: 17.7 g (89%)

Active oxygen content: 3.7% (96.1%)

EXAMPLE 10 a) Pyromellitimido-di-ε-caproic acid

76 g of pyromellitic anhydride (0.35 mol) and 79.2 g of caprolactam (0.7mol) are kept in an autoclave with 2 g of water for 18 hours at 250° C.under a nitrogen pressure of 4 bar. Thereafter, the autoclave is openedat this temperature and the melt is poured into a porcelain dish.

Melting point: 232° C.

Yield: 149 g (96%), white crystals

b) Pyromellitimido-di-ε-percaproic acid

10 g of pyromellit-imido-di-ε-caproic acid (0.023 mol) were oxidized anaccordance with the general instructions.

Melting point: 139° C.

Yield: 9 g (82%)

Active oxygen content: 6.6% (98.5%)

EXAMPLE 11 Washing experiments in a Launder-O-Meter

The experiments were carried out at 40° and 60° C. in a Launder-O-Meterusing test stains of tea on WFK cotton, red wine on EMPA cotton andstandard stain on WFK cotton. The bleaching systems were metered so thatin each case 25 mg/l of active oxygen resulted in the wash liquor. Ineach case 1.5 g/l of IEC detergent was employed as the detergent. Thewashing time was 30 minutes. The bleaching action was determined as theincrease in reflectance on the various test fabrics. The evaluation iscarried out in the usual manner.

    ______________________________________                                               Reflectance values                                                     Bleaching                                                                              Standard    Tea         Red wine                                     system   40° C.                                                                         60° C.                                                                         40° C.                                                                       60° C.                                                                       40° C.                                                                       60° C.                      ______________________________________                                        Perborate                                                                              49.5    59.4    58.4  62.8  55.5  56.9                               Perborate/                                                                             48.3    63.6    66.9  67.4  59.8  60.0                               TAED                                                                          PAP      49.0    64.9    72.2  75.0  67.7  73.1                               ______________________________________                                    

The results show a significantly better bleaching performance by theperacid PAP (ω-phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid) according to theinvention in comparison with the previously customary bleaching systemof perborate/TAED (tetraacetylethylenediamine) when equimolar amounts ofthe bleaching system are employed.

EXAMPLE 12

Washing experiments in a Launder-O-Meter

The experiments were carried out analogously to Example 5. Theperoxycarboxylic acids DPDDA (diperoxydodecanedioic acid), PMP(monoperphthalic acid) and NAPSA (nonylmonoamidopersuccinic acid) weretested against PAP as the bleaching systems.

    ______________________________________                                                  Reflectance values                                                            Tea         Red wine                                                Peroxy acids                                                                              38° C.                                                                         60° C.                                                                           38° C.                                                                       60° C.                             ______________________________________                                        DPDDA       69.6    73.6      65.5  71.8                                      PMP         66.8    71.1      61.1  65.4                                      NAPSA       68.1    72.2      63.7  68.6                                      PAP         68.4    77.1      67.2  74.3                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 13 Washing experiments in a washing machine

The experiments were carried out in a Miele washing machine (AutomaticW432) with the 40° temperature program (main wash and stepwise spinning)using 2 kg of ballast. The bleaching action was measured as the increasein reflectance on EMPA test strips (EMPA 103). In each case 4.5 g/l ofdetergent prepared by mixing IEC detergent with the particular bleachingsystem were employed.

    ______________________________________                                        Detergent     Standard    Red wine Blood                                      ______________________________________                                        IEC           24.7        54.8     65.5                                       IEC/10% of perborate                                                                        27.8        54.9     37.1                                       IEC/10% of perborate/                                                                       28.0        57.7     44.2                                       3% of TAED                                                                    IEC/3% of PAP 32.2        57.8     68.5                                       IEC/6% of PAP 34.9        63.1     66.6                                       IEC/9% of PAP 34.4        66.6     65.5                                       IEC/6% of DSIPH                                                                             36.6        59.1     65.6                                       ______________________________________                                         TAED = tetraacetylethylenediamine                                             PAP = phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid                                          DSIPH = [2dodecylsuccinimido]peroxyhexanoic acid                         

The experiments show a significant superiority of theimidoperoxycarboxylic acids according to the invention over knownbleaching systems. In particular, no antagonistic effect on the ease ofwashing out of blood stains are observed when the peracids are used.

EXAMPLE 14 Determination of the oil-solubility of bleaching systems

To determine the oil-solubility of a bleaching system, the bleachingsystem was introduced into a mixture of 50% of demineralized water and50% of isopropyl myristate at 20° C., the pH was brought to 9 and themixture was stirred intensively for 10 minutes. After separation of thephases, the peroxycarboxylic acid content in the oil and water phaseswas determined by titrimetry.

    ______________________________________                                        Bleaching system                                                                             Oil solubility at pH 9                                         ______________________________________                                        Perborate/TAED  6%                                                            DPDDA          15%                                                            PAP            38%                                                            Perborate/isonobs                                                                            54%                                                            DSIPH          86%                                                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 15 Storage experiments on the free peroxycarboxylic acids

The experiments were carried out in open vessels in a heating cabinet.The content of peroxycarboxylic acid was determined by titrimetry.

    ______________________________________                                        Peroxy-                                                                       carboxylic                                                                             Storage time            Loss of                                      acid     (weeks)     Temperature active oxygen                                ______________________________________                                        PAP      4           25° C.                                                                              1.4%                                        NAPSA    4           25° C.                                                                             14.6%                                        PAP      4           40° C.                                                                              2.0%                                        NAPSA    4           40° C.                                                                             29.3%                                        PAP      4           50° C.                                                                             12.0%                                        NAPSA    2           50° C.                                                                             100.0%                                       ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A process for the preparation of an imidopercarboxylic acidor salt thereof which comprises reacting an anhydride of the formula##STR8## with an amino acid of the formula ##STR9## an oxidizing theimidocarboxylic acid obtained in this reaction in aqueous solution withhydrogen peroxide in the presence of a strong acid at a temperaturebetween 5° to 50° C., in which A denotes a group of the formula##STR10## n denotes the number 0, 1 or 2, R¹ denotes hydrogen, chlorine,bromine, C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ -alkenyl, aryl, or alkyl-aryl,R²denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or a group of the formula --SO₃ M,--CO₂ M, CO₃ M or OSO₃ M, M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal orammonium ion or the equivalent of an alkaline earth metal ion and Xdenotes C₁ -C₁₉ -alkylene or arylene.
 2. A process for the preparationof an imidopercarboxylic acid or salt thereof of the formula ##STR11##in which X denotes C₃ -C₁₉ -alkylene, which comprises reacting ananhydride of the formula ##STR12## with a lactam of the formula##STR13## in which Y denotes C₃ -C₁₉ -alkylene, in the presence of waterunder pressure at a temperature between 100° and 250° C. and oxidizingthe imidocarboxylic acid obtained in this reaction in aqueous solutionwith hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a strong acid at a temperaturebetween 5° and 50° C. in which A denotes a group of the formula##STR14## n denotes the number 0, 1 or 2, R¹ denotes hydrogen, chlorine,bromine, C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ -alkenyl, aryl, or alkyl-aryl,R²denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or a group of the formula --SO₃ M,--CO₂ M, CO₃ M or OSO₃ M, M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal orammonium ion or the equivalent of an alkaline earth metal ion.
 3. Ableaching or cleaning composition which contains an imidopercarboxylicacid or salt thereof of the formula ##STR15## in which A denotes a groupof the formula ##STR16## n denotes the number 0, 1 or 2, R¹ denoteshydrogen, chlorine, bromine, C₁ -C₂₀ -alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ -alkenyl, aryl, oralkyl-aryl,R² denotes hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or a group of theformula --SO₃ M, --CO₂ M, CO₃ M or OSO₃ M, M denotes hydrogen, an alkalimetal or ammonium ion or the equivalent of an alkaline earth metal ionand X denotes C₁ -C₁₉ -alkylene or arylene.
 4. An imido percarboxylicacid or salt thereof selected from the group consistingofomega-phthalimidoperoxybutanoic acid; omega-phthalimidoperoxyhexanoicacid; omega-[2-dodecylsuccinimido]peroxyhexanoic acid;omega-[3-carboxyphthalimido]peroxyhexanoic acid;pyromellitimido-di-omega-peroxyhexanoic acid; andomega-trimellitimidoperoxyhexanoic acid.
 5. A bleaching, oxidizing orcleaning composition which contains the imidopercarboxylic acid or saltthereof as claimed in claim 4.